Megasquirt ECU in D2 V8

[Collins]

I am considering fitting a Megasquirt ECU to my V8 auto Discovery to enable adjustment of fuelling & ignition timing which is not possible with the Motronic ECU. The Megasquirt will be piggy-backed to the Motronic so as to not interfere with the other ecu's linked to the engine computer.
Does anyone on the forum have any experience with such a modification?

[clubagreenie]

Ive tried a few aftermarket piggy backs, all the purportedly would runand not be efected by the original systems. None were aby great sucess. Have a look at tornado systems. Mark Adams has cracked the ecu and can reprogram your origial unit. Unfortunately at this stage you needto send your original ecu doe to a number of issues. You can keep running on a spare ecu but you need acess to a nanocom to set the security.

[Collins]

I recently spoke with Bruce Davis, he does a rechip of the early Motronic ECU's at $600. Needs vehicle & ECU in Sydney. Later D2's simple electronic reprogramming of existing chip.
I have a Megasquirt, from another project, and can have it reconfigured for use on my vehicle at a relatively small outlay and the addition of two sensors - inlet air & coolant.
I am seriously considering the change, as i am seeking improvement for towing.
Intend utilising a Nanocom to log fuelling & ignition data as primary starting point for Megasquirt programming.

[clubagreenie]

That's the first I've heard of ANYONE outside the UK chipping a Motronic. The level of security is ridiculous TBH, I'd confirm that's a D2 version as others aren't as bad apparently. If he was doing it there'd be a queue up down Annangrove Road to windosor Road for them of people with 4.6's.

[Collins]

That's the first I've heard of ANYONE outside the UK chipping a Motronic. The level of security is ridiculous TBH, I'd confirm that's a D2 version as others aren't as bad apparently. If he was doing it there'd be a queue up down Annangrove Road to windosor Road for them of people with 4.6's.

Petrol engine performance & tuning (http://www.graemecooper.com.au/petrol_performance.htm)

Have a look at this, and try talking to them. Definitely upgrading Motronic ECU's, early D2's - new chip. later - reflash

[clubagreenie]

Talk to them? I used to work there.

I can't see anything about rechipping, just haltec piggy backs which I'm less a fan of than a lot of other stuff I've found.

[Nick S]

Not sure about how D2 integrates engine ecu with body but with my 4.6 in a 1990 RRC it was just a matter of getting rid of the cux14, MAF and the distributor and replacing it with coil packs, MAP, EDIS8 and a MSII Extra ecu. Result has been great, total contol over fuel and ignition. Can you just leave the existing ecu there powered up for the BCM and bypass the lot with MS?

[101RRS]

What sort of cost is the Megasquirt system?

[Collins]

Talk to them? I used to work there.

I can't see anything about rechipping, just haltec piggy backs which I'm less a fan of than a lot of other stuff I've found.

I can assure you, not a Haltec piggyback, rechip of early D2, flah programming of later. Vehicle required, approx cost $600. I spoke with them last week.
Give them a call,

[Collins]

What sort of cost is the Megasquirt system?

Cost dependent upon the system chosen & whether purchased as a kit or fully assembled.
As an example a MS3 in kit form with an expansion card,stimulator kit, stim power supply, quad spark ignition, requisite harnesses and tuning cable, approx $800 + post.
As above but all fully assembled (MS3 & stimulator) $1000 + post.

This pricing is from USA. I have been communicating with an English supplier & i am considering having the MS2+ Megasquirt that I have modified to run on the existing LR sensors, with two additional, one for coolant & one for air. It would be possible to use the existing coolant temperature sensor, as in the D2 V8, there are two unused connections.
If you want further information send a PM

[clubagreenie]

Not sure about how D2 integrates engine ecu with body but with my 4.6 in a 1990 RRC it was just a matter of getting rid of the cux14, MAF and the distributor and replacing it with coil packs, MAP, EDIS8 and a MSII Extra ecu. Result has been great, total contol over fuel and ignition. Can you just leave the existing ecu there powered up for the BCM and bypass the lot with MS?


The RRC system is still carbied by comparison to the D2. Change ECU's and you need a Nanocom etc to relearn the BCU security to make it work. Then there's the issue of compatibility of tunes between ECU's (your replacement needs to be the same tune, g/box etc settings. Even between the P38 and D2 which run the same system the P38 is simpler.

[Nick S]

Mmmm sound like a much more complex conversion on the D2 than the RRC. LR4X4 site has a really good sub-forum on MS for Rover V8. They seem happy to advise on options etc

[Collins]

Not sure about how D2 integrates engine ecu with body but with my 4.6 in a 1990 RRC it was just a matter of getting rid of the cux14, MAF and the distributor and replacing it with coil packs, MAP, EDIS8 and a MSII Extra ecu. Result has been great, total contol over fuel and ignition. Can you just leave the existing ecu there powered up for the BCM and bypass the lot with MS?

If I do go ahead with the MS2+, it will only be utilised for fuelling & ignition. All of the functions of the Motronic intergrating with BCU, CCU, EAT etc will remain.
It is well known that the tuning of the Motronic is extremely conservative.

[clubagreenie]

The D2 throws a lot of codes back when you plug in a piggy back. Seems even though the stuff's still plugged into the lines, it has issues with the sensors. Maybe voltage issues as it's plugged into two things. Wasn't going to unpin the senor inputs from the ECU plug to test the difference.

The CUX will just replace it completely wouldn't it?

[clubagreenie]

I can assure you, not a Haltec piggyback, rechip of early D2, flah programming of later. Vehicle required, approx cost $600. I spoke with them last week.
Give them a call,

Be assured, rechip od early TD5, reflash of late NNN TD5 ecu's.

The only V8 tuning they do is the Haltech. Spoke to my old service manager who's still there.

Only reprogramming option is Mark Adams.

[Collins]

Firstly, I must apologise to 'clubagreenie', he is correct, Coopers do not rechip & still add on a Haltech starting at $1300. Please disregard the link I posted.

However, made another call today & spoke with Bruce Davis @ Davis Performance Landys & he again confirmed that they do rechip D2 V8 Motronic ECU's.
After talking with him today I an seriously considering booking in to have the ECU rechipped.

[Tombie]

Best of luck to you..

The only real gains come from mechanical upgrades...

Cam, Heads, Valves, Polishing, Porting, Capacity increase or forced induction...

V8 Rovers - 'you can't polish a turd, but you can roll it in glitter'

You want it to pull harder - go bigger (4.6)

[justinc]

Fitted a Bruce Davis chipped ECU to a V8 2003 D2a, customer noticed good gains for towing, it is an auto, and running 32" BFG mudders aswell.

I reckon with standard tyre size it'll be better again.

He is very happy with the $600 outlay.

He says his fuel bill seems the same, too.

JC

[clubagreenie]

How have they managed to do it? Is it a replacement chip or a reprogram?

EDIT: Davis can do it, but only on later ones. But, heres the thing.

1999 - 2004 Series 11
Has a non programmable ECU replace chip

2002 - 2004 Flashable (programmable) chip through the diagnostic port
Erase the management program and re-program.

Apparently what this means is 1. If you have the right ECU they can do it. 2. If you don't, they aren't backwards compatible (though I wouldn't be 100% assured of this).